A creaky door squeaks open. It's dark inside, but you push forward in the faint light. It's just bright enough to make out shadows and things moving in the dark, but that won't scare you away.
As you walk, you feel someone watching you and the hair on your neck stands up. Gripping the person next to you, your heart begins to race. You keep moving forward slowly, always clutching the friend who offered to come with you as the music plays hauntingly over the speakers. You know at anytime someone may just pop up or out of somewhere, but you won't be caught off guard. You're aware of all the tricks because you've seen a few scary movies.
You know someone in costume will jump out, but are still taken aback when a scream pierces through the scary music as a ghoul appears out of nowhere. Only after, as you cower behind your friend, do you realize it was actually you who yelled out as you tightened your grip around your friend's arm when the ghoul materialized.
You approach the end, having seen ghouls, ghosts, and goblins. You are thankful for the light at the end and the chance to relax after holding your breath for most of the haunted house. After all you just made it through the frighteningly scary place and can make fun of those too afraid to even try. Though your adrenaline is still rushing, subsiding as you breathe in the fresh air, and you would have preferred to run through the entire thing, you succeeded when others wouldn't even try.
Now October, Hallowe'en is again approaching quickly. The only time throughout the year when being scared is embraced and the ever popular Alida Haunted House will again be hosted by the Alida Recreation Board as a fundraiser.
The 15th anniversary of the event means the community understands scary and has developed an intense haunted house experience within the Alida Rink, which proves to be scarier and more entertaining every year.
Having begun setting up in September, the members of the Rec. Board are excited to bring the elaborate production to the public again.
This year the haunted house will be open Friday, Oct. 25 between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Oct. 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
It will then be open on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will finish up on All Hallows Eve between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Again the Rec. Board has decided to hold a fun fair in conjunction with the haunted house, though this will only be available on Sunday, Oct. 27. There will be prizes, games, and candy during the fun fair, which organizers established after deciding they wanted young children to be able to join in the fun as well.
Though many young children do attempt to go through the haunted house with older siblings and parents, there are quite a few who are unable to finish the entirety of the tour through the rink. This is why the Rec. Board decided to host a day of fun for all ages, by offering both the haunted house and a fun fair on the Sunday.
For more information contact Shelly at (306)443-2295 or check out their Facebook page, Alida Haunted House.
